By Craig Hope

NEWCASTLE United's lead at the top of the Championship was cut to three points on Saturday as both West Brom and Nottingham Forest recorded maximum returns.

The Magpies' 5-1 win over Cardiff City on Friday night had opened up a six-point gap over the second-placed Baggies, but Roberto Di Matteo's men scraped a 1-0 victory at Plymouth to reduce that advantage thanks to Simon Cox's second-half strike.

Albion winger Jerome Thomas was sent off for a dangerous lunge late in the game and will now be banned for three matches.

Forest, meanwhile, were also made to work for their three points, Dexter Blackstock twice on target in a hard-fought 2-1 win over the resurgent Sheffield Wednesday.

United, with a game in hand on both of their nearest rivals, travel to Derby County on Tuesday night, West Brom host Scunthorpe United and Nottingham Forest face Coventry City at the Ricoh Arena.

Top three latest; 1 NUFC P 28 Pts 59 2 WBAFC P 29 Pts 56 3 NUFC P 29 Pts 55

Click here for full league table.

Weekend results and Tuesday's fixtures below;

Fri 5 Feb: 
Newcastle 5-1 Cardiff City

Sat 6 Feb
Swansea City 2-0 Preston North End
Barnsley 1-0 Watford
Blackpool 1-2 Leicester City
Bristol City 1-1 Coventry City
Ipswich Town 1-1 Middlesbrough
Nottingham Forest 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday
Peterborough United 1-0 QPR
Plymouth Argyle 0-1 West Bromwich Albion
Scunthorpe United 1-2 Crystal Palace
Sheffield United 1-1 Derby County
Doncaster Rovers 1-2 Reading

Tue 9 Feb (all 7.45pm)

Cardiff City v Peterborough United
Coventry City v Nottingham Forest
Crystal Palace v Swansea City
Derby County v Newcastle
Leicester City v Doncaster Rovers
Middlesbrough v Barnsley
Preston North End v Sheffield United
QPR v Ipswich Town
Reading v Plymouth Argyle
Sheffield Wednesday v Blackpool
Watford v Bristol City
West Bromwich Albion v Scunthorpe United